Teledynamic system for guide lights



Feb. 10. 1925.

Original Filed June 16, 1917 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR A TTOR/VE Y Feb.10. 1925.

A. D. TRENOR TELEDYNAMIC SYSTEM FOR GUIDE LIGHTS Original Filed June 16,1917 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VE N TOR H/6 A TTOR/VEY Patented Feb. 10, 1925.

UNETED STATES rarest orrics.

ALBERT D. TRENOR, OF NEW YORK, Y., ASSIGNOR T0 JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JB.,OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

TELEDYNAMIC SYSTEM FOR GUIDE LIGHTS.

Application filed June 18, 1917. Serial To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT D. TRENOR, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Teledynamic Systems for GuideLights, oi which the following is a specification.

Some of the objects of this invention are to provide an improved systemfor guide lights for movable .bodies, whereby the lights may becontrolled from a distance so as to furnish a guide visible always froma given point, and always invisible from other given points; to provideimproved means for controlling guide lights from a distance; and toprovide other improvements as will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagram partly in top planview and partly in side elevation showing a system of guide lightsconstructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 a fragmentary topplan view of a portion of the same; ig. 3 a developmentof acommutatorforming a part of the same; Fig. 4 a diagrammatic side elevation ofamodified form of this invention; and Fig 5 a top plan view of a portionof the same.

Reterrin to the drawings, one embodi ment of this invention comprisesfour relatively fixed electric lights l0, 11, 12 and 13 (shown in topplan view in Fig. 1), which are preferably arranged in substantially thesame horizontal plane, and to radiate from a common center located inthe longitudinal axis of a substantially vertical post 14 to which thelights are secured. The lights 10 to 13 are preferably arrangedsymmetrically with respect to the post 14 and so that the angle betweenany two successive lights is approximately a right angle. The lights 10,11, 12 and 13 are separated by four flat normally vertical opaquescreens 16. 17. 18 and 19 which radiate from and are rigidly secured tothe post 14, and which are symmetrically arranged with respect to thepost 14 so that the angle between any two successive screens is aboutninety degrees, and is bisected by the corresponding light 10, 11, 12 or13. The post. 14 is rigidly secured to a marine vessel or other movablebody in such a manner that the post 14 will be normally vertical andwill hold the light: 10, 11, 12

No. 175,108. Renewed April 24, 1824.

and 13in such positions as to be visible in turn from a- 'iven distantpoint.

For controllin the lights 10, 11, 12 and 13 so that only t at lightwhich faces nearest towards a predetermined point will be illuminated, acommutator 25 is rigidly secured to a normally vertical spindle 26 whichis arranged to rotate about a normally vertical axis in a stationarysleeve or hearing 27. The commutator 25 'is arranged to cooperate withfive brushes 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35, one of which, 31, is-connected by aconductor 36 to one pole of a battery 37, the other pole of which isconnected by a conductor 38 with one terminal of each of the lights 10,11, 12 and 13, the other terminals of the lights being connectedrespectively by conductors 42, 43, 44 and 45 with the other four brushes32, 33, 34 and 35 respectively The commutator 25 includes a cylindricalcore 46 of insulating material surrounding and secured to which is ahollow cylindrical continuous conductor 47, and four segmentalconductors 48, 49, and 51. The cylindrical conductor 47 is arranged tobe engaged at all times by uppermost brush 3], and the four segmentalconductors 48, 49, 50 and 51 are arranged to be engaged successively bythe four lower brushes 32, 33, 34 and 35, only one of these lowerbrushes being in contact with its corresponding segment at any one time.The segments 48, 49, 50 and 51 extend throughout slightly less than aquarter of a circle, so that one of the brushes 32, 33, 34 and 35 leavesits segment just as the next brush comes into contact with its segment.The four segments 48, 49, 50 and are connected to each other and to thecontinuous contact 47 by means of a conductor 55 arranged within theinsulating core 46. The arrangement is such that as the commutator 25 isrotated in a given direction, the lights 10, 11. 12 and 13 will besuccessively illuminated through the action of the battery 37 controlledby the brushes 31 to 35.

For holding the commutator 25 normally against rotation about itslongitudinal axis, a gyroscope is provided having a normally verticalstem 61 which is held by the gyroscope G0 in a well known manner againstrotation about its longitudinal axis. The stem 61 is held so that itslongitudinal axis corresponds with the longitudinal axis of the spindle26, and is provided at its upper end with a yoke 62 rigid therewith inwhich loosely engages a plate or clutch member 63 which is rigidlysecured to the lower end of a vertical piston rod 64 which is secured atits up er end to a piston 65 which is arranged to reciprocate verticallyin a cylinder 66 which is rigid with the lower end of the spindle 26.The lower end of the cylinder 66 is provided with an internal annularflange 67 and a spiral spring 68 which is normally compressed betweenthe piston and the flange 67 and forces the piston 65 upwardly so as tocause the plate 68 to c amp the yoke 62 against the lower end of thecylinder 66 thus causing the commutator 25 to be controlled by thegyroscope 60.

For releasing the commutator 25 from the gyroscope 60, and at-the sametime resetting the commutator 25 lndependently of the gyroscope 60, anaxial passage 70 leads upwardly from the upper end of the cylm- I der 66and communicates at all times through an annular recess 71 in thesurface of the spindle 26 with an air supply pipe 75 which communicateswith a branch pipe 76 which communicates with the inner end of anormally horizontal stationary eyl1n= der 77. Within the cylinder 77 isa piston 78 which is secured to the inner end of a piston rod 79, theouter end of whichhas rigidly secured thereto a horizontal transversebar 80 which is arranged to reciprocate into and out of engagement withtwo cylindrical diammetrically opposed pins or rollers 81 and 82 whichare secured to the upper end of the core 46 of the commutator 25. Thepiston 78 is normally pressed inwardly by a spiral spring 83, and thepiston rod 79 is held against rotation in any suitable manner, as forinstance, by a pin 84 engaging in a keyway 85 provided therefor in thepiston rod. The outer end of the cylinder 77 is closed by a head 86which is imperforate except for a small opening 87 which is provided topermit the air to be forced only slowly out of the cylinder 77 by thepiston 78 to retard the action of the piston 78 and thus prevent a toosudden movement of the crossbar 80 against the rollers '81, 82.

The resetting of the commutator 25 from a distance may be accomplishedby controlling the inlet pipe 75 in any suitable manner from a distantstation, but in the form of this invention shown the inlet pipe 75 isarranged to be controlled by a rotary valve 85 which is arranged in astationary valve casing 86, the valve 85 and the valve casing 86 beingconstructed and arranged to be controlled in response to electroradiantenergy and to control in any well known or suitable manner the movementsof the movable body, and to control various, functioning devices uponthe boat, as shown for instance, in my copending application,Serialpressed air, the valve 92 also controlling the exhaust of air from thecylinder 91.

For supplying air to the pipe 75 and branch pipe 76 to operate theresetting mechanism, a pipe 95 leads from a point in the cylinder 91suitably spaced between the limits of travel of the piston 90 to aninlet provided therefor in the valve casing 86 which is opposite theoutlet from the valve casing 86 into the pipe 75. A suitablediametrically arranged port 96 extends transversely through the valve 85so that when the valve 85 is in a suitable position, communication willbe established through the valve from the pipe 95 into the pipe 75. Thevalve 85 is also provided with two diametrically opposed longitudinallyextending recesses 97 and 98, which are arranged to act alternately toplace the pipe 75 into communication with an outlet 99 provided thereforin the valve casing 86 when the valve 85 is arranged either as shown inthe drawing or in a position 180 degrees therefrom and to closecommunication between the pipes 95 and 75. -The inletfrom the cylinder91 into the pipe 95 is so arranged that when the piston 90 ,is in itsoutermost position towards the left, communication will be establishedfrom the tank 94, through the pipe 93, cylinder 91 and into the pipe 95,and when the valve 85 is in proper position, the air will be permittedto flow from the tank 94 through the valve 85 into pipe 75 and branchpipe 76, and if the piston 90 is permitted to remain for a suflicientlength of time in its outermost positidn and in advance of the inletinto the pipe 95, the piston of the gyroscope clutch. will be forceddownwardly and disconnect the commutator 25 from the gyroscope stem 61,and immediately thereafter the crossbar 80 will be moved into engagementwith the rollers 81 and 82, and thus reset the commutator 25 withrespect to the gyroscope 60.

The valve 92 is controlled lg; a solenoid 100 which is in series with anormally open circuit including a battery 101 or other source ofelectric energy, and a normally open switch 102. The switz-h 102 iscontrolled by an electromagnet 103 which is in a circuit controlled byany suitable detector 104 which is arranged in a well known manner to becontrolled by a closed oscillatory circuit including a variablecondenser 105 and an inductance 106, which forms the secondary of atransformer 107 which has a primary coil 108 winch 1s arranged in serieswith an open aerial circuit or antenna 109 which is grounded as at 110.

In the operation of the system just described, the lights 10, 11, 12 and13 are normally controlled by the gyroscope 60. acting through thecommutator 25, in such a manner that onlythe light which happens to befacing nearest to a predetermined direction will be illuminated at anygiven time. \Vhcn it is desired to reset the commutator 25. the valve 85is rotated from the position shown in Fig. 1 through 90 degrees, bytransmitting a suitable impulse of electroradiant energy to cause theenergization of the antenna 109, and the consequent closing of theswitch 102 and energization of the solenoid 100. This impulse-isprolongated to cause the valve 92 to be held in an open position, and tocause the piston 90 to be held in its outermost. position upon the leftof the inlet to the pipe '95 for such a period of time that the air ispermitted to pass from the tank 9'1 through the valve 85 and pipes andT6 for a sufficient period to disconnect the commutator 25 from thegyroscope stem 61, and to cause the piston 7 8 to move the transversebar into engagement with the rollers 81 and 82 to rotate the commutator25 with respect to the gyroscope stem 61. The 1111- pulse ofelectroradiant energy which has caused this operation is thendiscontinued. and this permits the valve 92 to be returned to a closedposition, thus opening the exhaust of the cylinder 91 and allowing thepiston 90 to be returned to its innermost position under the action ofthe spiral spring provided in the cylinder 91 for this purpose. Thiscloses the inlet into the pipe 95. A. second impulseof electroradiantenergy is then transmitted to reenergize the antenna l09.and to rotatethe valve through one step which causes one of the longitudinal recesses97 or 98 to be brought into a position to permit the pipe 75 to iconnect with the outlet 99, and thus permit the piston 78 to return toits initial position to release the transverse bar 80 from engagementwith the rollers 81 and 82, and thus free the commutator 25 for itsusual operation, and at the same time permitting piston 65 to be movedupwardly under the action of the spiral spring 68 to clamp thecommutator 25 into engagement with the gyroscope stem 61 to permit thecommutator 25 to be controlled by the gyroscope 60.

The lights 10, 11, 12 and 13are preferably arranged so that two of thelights 11 and 13 are in a line substantially parallel with thelongitudinal axis of the boat or other movable body, and it is to beunderstood that when the boat is away from an observation point in astraight line extending through that point, the commutator 25 will be soadj usled with respect to the gyroscope 60 that only the light, forinstance, the light 13, facing towards the observation point will beilluminated. If now the boat should turn towards the right throughdegrees, only the next succeeding lamp 12 will be illuminated. and afurther turn of the boat to the right through 90 degrees would causeonly the lamp 11 to be illuminated. Suppose. however. that after theboat had proceeded a short distance to- Ward the east from a givenobservation point, and then should turn towards the right through 90degrees. and then proceed due south with only the corresponding lamp 12illuminated. it is evident that after the boat had proceeded due southfor a considerable distance. the illuminated lamp 12 would no longer bevisible from the ob-- servation point, and it would now be necessary toreadjust the commutator 25 with respect to the gyroscope 60 so that thecorresponding lamp, for instance, the lamp 13 would be illuminated. Thiswould be done. by turning the boat if necessary, so that the boat wouldbe proceeding away from the observation point along a line extendingthrough the observation point and while thus proceeding a suitableprolonged signal would be transmitted to energize the autenna 109 and toeffect the proper adjustment of the commutator 25 with respect to thegyroscope 60. After making this adjustment, an impulse of electroradiantenergy would be transmitted to turn the valve 85 again through 90degrees so as to release the commutator and to cause the commutator tobe clutched to the gyroscope stem 61, as hereinbefore described. Thiswould cause the rear light 13 to be illuminated while the boat isproceeding upon a course due east or within an angle of 45 degrees ineither direction from that course. and the lamp 13 will thus serve as aguide visible from the observation point under consideration.

In the modified form of this invention shown in Fig. 4, the constructionmay be the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and just described,except that instead of the commutator 25 and the plurality of lamps 10,11, 12 and 13 arranged to be controlled thereby, a gear 150 is securedto the upper end of the spindle 26, and is arranged coaxially therewith.Two diametrically opposed pins or rollers 151 corresponding to therollers 81 and 82 of Figs. 1 and 2 are secured upon the upper surface ofthe gear 150 and are arranged to be engaged by the transverse bar 80, ashereinbet'ore described. The gear 150 is arranged to actuate a pinion154 which is arranged to actuate an electrical transmitting device 155which is held as a whole in a stationary position with respect to thestationary bearing or sleeve 27. The electrical transmitter 155 isconnected by a four wire cable 156 tov pinion159 which engages a gear160 which.

is rigidly secured to a vertical spindle 161 which extends upwardly fromthe platform 158 and which is arranged in stationary bearings 162 and163 to rotate about a fixed vertical axis. Upon the upper end of thespindle 161 is rigidly secured an opaque reflector 165 which may beparabolic in form or of any other suitable form, in which is arranged anelectric lamp 166 which is energized by a stationary'battery 167 actingthrough a commutator 168 and insulated conductors 169 extending from thecommutator upwardly through the spindle 161. A cylindrical glass orother transparent casing 170 may be mounted upon the platform 158 tosurround the lamp 166 and other parts carried by the platform, and thiscasing may be provided with a suitable top or cover 171 impervious to,water to protect the parts carried bythe platform 158.

In the operation of this modified form of the invention, the reflector165 and the lamp 166 carried thereby are normally caused to face in agiven direction by the gyroscope 60 acting through the electricaltransmitter 156 and electrical repeater 157. The reflector 165 and thelamp 166 may be readjusted with respect to the gyroscope 60 by aprolonged impulse of electroradiant energy acting upon the antenna 109,to disconnect the spindle 26 from the gyroscope to force the transversebar slowly into engagement with the rollers 151, as hereinbeforedescribed. When the transverse bar 80 is thus moved slowly intoengagement with the rollers 151, the quently rotated slowly to actuatethe electrical transmitter 155 which causes the electrical repeater 157to rotate the shaft 161 and the reflector 165 carried thereby withrespect to the gyroscope 60 to cause the reflector 165 to face in adirection parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boat or other movablebody, and towards the point of observation when the boat is proceedingupon a straight line radiating from the point of observation.

Although only two of the various forms in which this invention may beembodied have been shown herein, it is to be understood that thisinvention is not limited to any specific construction, but might beemgear 150 is conse-- bodied in various systems without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described this inven tion, I claim: 3

l. The combination with a movable bod of visible guiding means carriedby sald body for determining the position of said body from a givenobservation point, and means controlled from a distance for moving saidguiding means with respect to an axis of said body to cause said guidingmeans to be constantly directed toward said observation point. r 4

z. The combination with a movable body, of guiding means carried by saidbody for determining the position of said body from a given observationpoint, direction maintaining means carried by said body and ar ranged tocontrol said guiding means, and

means controlled from a distance and operating independently of saiddirection maintaining means formodifying the visibility of said guidingmeans.

The combination with a movable body, of luminous guiding means carriedby said body for determining the position of said body from a givenobservation point, direction maintaining means carried by said body andarranged to control said luminous -guiding means, and means controlledfrom a distance and operating independently of said directionmaintaining means for modifying the visibility of said luminous guidingmeans.

4. The combination with a movable body, of guiding means carried by saidbody for determining the position of said body from v from a distanceand operating independently of said gyroscope for modifying thevisibility of said guiding means.

5. The combination with a movable body, of guiding means carried by saidbody for determining the position of said body from a given observationpoint, a gyroscope carried by said body and arranged to control saidguiding means, and means cont-rolled from a distance and operatingindependently of said gyroscope for modifying the action ofsaiddirection maintaining means upon said guiding means.

6; The combination with a movable body, of luminous guiding meanscarried by said body for determining the position of said body from agiven observation point, a gyroscope carried by said body and arrangedto control said luminous guiding means, and means controlled from adistance and operating independently of said gyroscope for modifying thevisibility of said luminous guiding means. i

7 The combination with a movable body,

of luminous guiding means carried by said body for determining theposition of said body from a. given observation oint, a gyroscopecarried by said body and arranged to control said luminous guidingmeans. and means controlled from a distance and operating independentlyof said gyroscope for modifying the action of said direction maintainingmeans upon, said luminous guiding means.

8. The combination with a movable body. of visible guiding means carriedby said body for determining the position of said body from a givenobservation point, and means responsive to radiant energy for movin"said guiding means with respect to an axis of said body to cause saidguiding means to be constantly directed toward said observation point.

9. The combination with a movable body, of guiding means carried by saidbody for determining the position of said body from a given observationpoint. direction maintaining means carried by said body and arranged tocontrol said guiding means. and means responsive to radiant energy andoperating independently of said direction maintaining means formodifying the visibility of said guiding means.

10. The combination with a movable bodv. of luminous guiding meanscarried by said body for determining the position of said body from agiven point. and means responsive to radiant energy for moving saidluminous guiding means with respect to an axis of said body to causesaid guiding means to be constantly directed toward said observationpoint.

11. The combination with a movable bodv. of luminous guiding meanscarried by said body for determining the position of said body from agiven observation point. direction maintaining means carried by saidbodv and arranged to control said luminous guiding means. and meansresponsive to radiant energv and operating independently of saiddirection maintaining means for modifying the visibility of saidluminous guidin means.

12. The combination with a movable bodv. of guiding means carried bysaid bodv for determining the position of said body from a given point.direction maintaining means carried by said body and arranged to controlsaid guiding means. and means controlled from a distance for adiustingsaid guiding means with respect to said direction maintaining means.

13. The combination with a movable body, of guiding means carried hvsaid body for determining the position of said body from a given point.direction maintaining means carried by said bodv and arranged to controlsaid guiding means. and means controlled from a distance for rotatablyadjusting said guiding means with respect to said direction maintainingmeans.

14. The combination with a, movable body, of luminous guiding meanscarried by said body for determining the position of said body from agiven point, direction maintaming means carried by said body andarranged to control said guiding means, and meanscontrolled from adistance for adjustmg sa d guiding means with respect to said directionmaintaining means.

15. The combination with acmovable body, of luminous guiding meanscarried by said body for determining the position of said body from a,given point, direction'maintamin means carried by said body and arrangedto control said guiding means, and means controlled from a distance forrotatably adjusting said guiding means with respect to said directionmaintaining means.

16. The combination with a movable body, of guiding means carried bysaid body for determining the position of said body from a given point,a gyroscope carried by said body and arranged to control said guidingmeans. and means controlled from a distance for adjusting said guidingmeans with respect to said gyroscope.

17 The combination with a movable body; of luminous guiding meanscarried by said body for determining the position of said body from agiven point, a gyroscope carried by said body and arranged to controlsaid guiding means. and means controlled from a distance for adjustingsaid guiding means with respect to said gyroscope.

18. The combination with a movable body, of luminous guiding meanscarried by said body for determining the position of said body from agiven point, a gyroscope carried by said body and arranged to controlsaid guiding means, and means controlled from a distance for rotatablyadjusting said guiding means with respect to said gyroscope.

19. The combination with a movable body, luminous guiding means carriedby said body for determining the position of said body from a givenpoint. direction maintaining means carried by said body and normallyarranged to control said guiding means. and means controlled froma-distance for temporarily interrupting the control of said guidingmeans by said direction maintaining means and adjusting said guidingmeans with respect to said direction maintaining means.

20. The combination with a movable body, luminous guiding means carriedby said body for determining the position of said body from a givenpoint. direction maintaining means carried by said body and normallyarranged to control said guiding means, and means controlled from adlstance for temporarily interrupting the control of said guiding meansby said direction maintaining means and rotatably adjusting said guidingmeans with respect to said direction maintaining means.

21. The combination with a movable body, of a rotatable member movablewith respect to said bod for emitting radiant energy in substantial .y asingle .direction from said body, and means independent of the movegientof said body for controlling said memer. Y

22. The combination with a movable body, of a rotatable'member movablewith respect to, said body for emitting radiant energy in substantiallya single direction from said body, and means independent of the movementof said body for rotating said member.

23. The combination with a movable body, of a rotatable member movablewith iespect to said body for emitting radiant energy in substantially asingle direction from said body, and gyroscoplc means independent of.

the movement of said body for rotating said said body in substantially asingle direction, automatic direction maintaining means for controllingsaid first named means, and means independent of said automatic meansfor modifying the control of said first named means.

26. The combination with a movable body, of means for emitting radiantenergy from said body. in substantially'a single direction, automaticdirection maintaining means for controllin said first named means, andmeans at 51c will of an operator for modify- --ing the control of saidfirst named means.

27. The combination with a movable body, of means for emitting radiantenergy from said body in substantially a single direction, automaticdirection maintaining means including a gyrosco e for controlling saidfirst named means, an meanscontrolled by radiant energy for modifyingthe control of said first named means.

28. The combination with a movable body, of means for emitting radiantenergy in a given direction, means including a gyroscope for-controllingsaid first named means, and manual means independent of said gyroscopefor modifying the control of said first named means.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this11th day of June A. D. 1917.

ALBERT D. TREN OR.

